You love to surf. You’ve always had ever since you got your first surfboard, a gift that your brother gave you on your 21st birthday. Your problem however is you can only do this when you’re in Hawaii while on vacation or in Siargao, Philippines while you’re in the country.
Then your local government unit decides to save the ocean, the marine life that lives in it, and placed artificial reefs to encourage schools of fish and other sea creatures to populate the area. To your amazement, however, the artificial reefs are also serving as a kind of breakwater, causing “surf-able” waves in the process. This is when you discover how to reef surf.
It’s basically the same as ordinary surfing only that when people reef surf what they are actually surfing on are the waves produced by reefs surrounding the beach area. It won’t matter if the reefs are made of the natural stuff or artificial, what matters is that the wave it is creating becomes manna from heaven for reef surf addicts.
I must warn you though that surfing waves produced by reefs can be quite a challenge and a little bit more dangerous than surfing beaches that are naturally-wave producing. Reefs specifically the ones made by nature have spikes and are rock-solid so falling off your surfboard isn’t such a good idea. If falling cannot be prevented, make sure that you’re wearing a helmet. You wouldn’t want to cut yourself right in the head and get a concussion in the process, right? Or have your dignity crushed after a fall that could have been prevented if only you weren’t showing off too much.
Remember that reef surfing is a wonderful adventure, a challenge, and adrenalin-producing but safety must always be on top of your list of priorities first thing you go into the water with the intention of riding gigantic waves. Always safety first! This way, you get to experience the joys of surfing with more confidence and excitement. You know that you are executing the right moves, wearing the appropriate gears, and with this you are aware that you are not in harm’s way.
Famous beaches around the globe that offer reef surfing adventures include the beach in El Segundo, California, Cable Beach in Perth, Australia and one beach in Boscombe, Bournemouth, UK, which is said to create waves up to 30% larger and is expected to double the surfing days in the UK annually.
This information should be a cause for celebration for surfers like you as whether you are in the United States of America, in the South Pacific, or in the UK, you can reef surf anytime of the year.
If you’re in the Philippines, there’s always the beautiful Siargao. Happy surfing then!